Abstract
To implement or continue water management strategies social support is needed. Social support highly depends on people’s
perspectives on water. However, these perspectives are not static and may change over time leading to changes in social support
for strategies. Therefore, sustainable water management strategies should be robust. Robust strategies are able to cope with changing
social and environmental developments. Lacking robustness runs the risk of losing social support, which may force policymakers into
sudden or expensive measures. We use the Perspectives Method to analyze the present Dutch policy perspective and the dominant
perspective on water among Dutch water professionals, by respectively studying the Dutch Delta report and questionnaire outputs
and distinguishing between Hierarchical, Egalitarian, Individualistic and Fatalistic perspectives. A comparison between the policy
and professional perspective shows similarities and differences. Topics regarding drought, water supply, and waters’ relation to spatial
planning need serious reconsideration to guarantee enough present and future social support to implement the measures suggested
in the policy report.
perspectives on water. However, these perspectives are not static and may change over time leading to changes in social support
for strategies. Therefore, sustainable water management strategies should be robust. Robust strategies are able to cope with changing
social and environmental developments. Lacking robustness runs the risk of losing social support, which may force policymakers into
sudden or expensive measures. We use the Perspectives Method to analyze the present Dutch policy perspective and the dominant
perspective on water among Dutch water professionals, by respectively studying the Dutch Delta report and questionnaire outputs
and distinguishing between Hierarchical, Egalitarian, Individualistic and Fatalistic perspectives. A comparison between the policy
and professional perspective shows similarities and differences. Topics regarding drought, water supply, and waters’ relation to spatial
planning need serious reconsideration to guarantee enough present and future social support to implement the measures suggested
in the policy report.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1164-1177 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | Journal of environmental science and health. Part A, Toxic/hazardous substances & environmental engineering |
Volume | 48 |
Issue number | 10 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2013 |
Keywords
- Perspectives on water
- social robustness
- sustainable water management
- perspective change
- social support